Chapter 10: Snowpoint City
The next day, we continued our journey towards Snowpoint City. While at one point Pikachu and I were rather sad, we both felt better, thanks to Pikachu making fun of me since Dawn and I were going out. As we kept going north, the temperature started dropping, and it then got to the point where we needed to put on more clothing. Luckily, Dawn happened to have brought an extra coat for me, despite it not being quite the color I wanted, a dark purple.
"Sorry," Dawn said, grinning sheepishly, "You know how girls are."
After about an hour of walking, we had finally reached Snowpoint City, a city covered in, well, snow. Compared to other cities, however, it was smaller and there weren't nearly as many buildings. Still, who would really want to stay in a city where it was cold and covered in snow year round? I sure wouldn't seeing as I was one who hated the cold.
"From what it looks like, the gym should just be ahead," Brock said.
"Alright! I can't wait to get that next badge," Ash said. "I hope you're as ready as I am, Pikachu because this might be a tough fight."
"Pika!" Pikachu said, raising his paw in the air.
We finally got to the gym, where a man in a large coat stood outside. "Can I help you all?" he then said.
"Yeah, I'm here to challenge the Snowpoint Gym leader," Ash said.
"Oh, I'm sorry but Candice has left the city and won't be back till tomorrow," the man said, making all of us fall down anime-style.
"Tomorrow?" Ash said. He then sighed. "I guess we're going to have to stay here for the night then."
"Hopefully it's warm inside the Pokemon Center," I said, letting everyone know my bitterness towards the cold. And thats where we ended up going to next.
"I can't believe the gym leader is gone," Ash said while on our way there.
"That seems to happen to you a lot, doesn't it?" We looked over and saw a rather familiar face.
"Paul, what are you doing here?" Ash said.
"Well obviously I came here to get my next badge," Paul said, "Which I did before the gym leader left, more unfortunate to you losers."
"Losers huh? Like you have room to talk," Pikette said suddenly.
Paul's eyes widened in surprise. "Did that Pikachu just talk?"
"So what if I did?" Pikette said. "I've heard about you, how you're rather harsh to your Pokemon, training and in battles. And from what else I heard, you're a sore loser when you do lose."
"I am not a sore loser!" Paul said, angrily. We stared in surprise at both Paul and Pikette, sensing a fight brewing.
"I don't see why you're getting so worked up," Pikette said, smirking at Paul.
"You have a big mouth for being a small yellow runt," Paul said.
"What did you say!?" Pikette said, hopping off my shoulder and stood in front of us, facing Paul. "You're going to regret saying that!" she said, while Dawn grabbed her, trying to calm her down.
"Just ignore him, Pikette," Dawn said.
"Oh no, please let it continue," Paul said, his turn to smirk. "I'm getting the feeling that it wants to battle me."
"You're damn right about that!" Pikette said angrily, flames in her eyes. "I don't even need a trainer to fight you!"
"Okay, now you're talking crazy," I said, going up next to Dawn.
"And I'm assuming you're it's trainer?" Paul then said.
"Not exactly," I said.
"What do you mean "not exactly"?" Paul asked. "If it was on your shoulder then you must be it's trainer."
"But I'm not a trainer," I said, feeling rather embarrassed.
"Not a trainer?" Paul said, chuckling. "Well, that's rather pathetic."
"Just don't listen to him," Dawn said, taking my hand, but this only kept Paul going.
"Well, well, well. I would probably listen to your "girlfriend" if I were you," Paul then said, making both of us blush. "Even though she's a loser just like the rest of you."
Dawn seemed hurt by the comment, while Paul had hit a nerve. A big one at that. All of a sudden, anger flooded through my body, but not the kind of anger I was used to feeling. No, this was deep down even worse. "If you have anything else to say," I said venomously, "I suggest you choose your next words carefully."
Apparently the others felt the anger rippling out of me, since they all stepped back, even Dawn, who looked at me with a scared look on her face. "I sense a fight coming," Ash whispered to Brock.
"Yeah, I'm surprised it's between these two though," Brock said.
Paul said nothing. I then looked towards Pikette. "You ready for this?" I asked her.
"Is that even a question?" Pikette said, smirking at me.
"Good to hear," I said, as Pikette jumped and stood in front of me.
"This is going to be a waste of my time," Paul said, taking out a Pokeball. "Gliscor, stand by!" There was a flash of light and Gliscor appeared.
"Alright Pikette, let's start off with Quick Attack," I said. Pikette then charged towards Gliscor.
"Use screech," Paul said. Gliscor then opened its mouth and produced a high shriek, stopping Pikette in her tracks. "Now use X-Scissor!" Gliscor then crossed it's arms and produced two beams of light replicating an X.
"Dodge it and use Iron Tail!" I said. Pikette jumped up quickly and started coming down using Iron Tail.
"Use X-Scissor again," Paul said, and Gliscor repeated the attack. However, Pikette's Iron Tail proved to be stronger than Gliscor's X-Scissor, breaking right through it and then hitting Gliscor right on the head, knocking it down.
Although it got up, it seemed rather exhausted. However, Paul wasn't willing to lose. "Gliscor, use Guillotine!" Gliscor's claw started to glow, ready to use it's major attack move.
I knew I had only one chance, this would make it or break it. "Pikette, use Volt Tackle!" Pikette then started running towards Gliscor, volts of electricity surrounding her. Gliscor charged as well, using Guillotine. They then connected, causing an explosion, blowing them both back. Pikette then landed on her feet, ready for more. Gliscor, however, was knocked out, Pikette's Volt Tackle too much for him.
Paul just stood there, stunned that he had lost to a Pikachu, a powerful one at that. "So much for me being a small yellow runt," Pikette said, smirking. Paul said nothing, calling back Gliscor and started walking away.
I kneeled down next to Pikette. "Nice work partner," I said.
Pikette winked at me. "Same for you," she said.
"Wow, Chris, that was some impressive battling," Ash said.
"For not being a trainer, you sure know how to use a Pokemon's moves effectively," Brock said.
"Well," I said modestly, "I was able to use Pikette because I knew the moves she was capable of using."
"Chris?" I looked to Dawn, who had tears forming in her eyes. She then gave me a hug. "Thanks for sticking up for me."
"No problem," I said, returning the hug. "That's what friends are for."
Dawn smiled. "You got that right," she said.
We then continued on our way to the Pokemon Center. While walking though, a storm had started coming through the area, causing a huge blizzard, almost making us sprint to the Center. Once we got there, no surprise not seeing Paul there, we then got our room, realizing we were probably going to be stuck here for the entire day since this storm was supposed to be big.
Later that night, while the others were asleep, I was still awake staring at the ceiling, thinking about the battle I had.
"Hey Chris, you still awake?"
I smiled. Make that just Ash and Brock. "Yeah, what's up?"
"You mind if I come down?" Dawn asked. We were sleeping in bunk beds after all.
Normally, I would feel rather awkward from this question, but this time I didn't care. "Sure," I said.
She then came down and snuggled into the bed beside me. "I have to ask," she said. "Did you battle Paul just for me?"
"Honestly, yes," I said, expecting this question. "It was rather weird though. I felt like a spark inside me ignited me, giving me the confidence to do what I did."
Dawn laughed. "That's what all of us trainers feel during battle. The excitement feels so good, but you can't let it get to you."
"Oh I know that," I said, kissing her on the cheek. "It just felt like something I was used to doing for a long time."
Dawn got closer to me. "Well, you may not be a trainer but you definitely carry trainer traits in you. I know most trainers start off when they're younger, but that wouldn't stop you from starting now."
"Yeah, I'm sure all the people I know from home would love to hear that," I said, smiling. "Still, I'm sure they would be rather impressed, maybe."
That brought up another thought that Dawn was thinking. "Chris, what if you can't get back home?"
That was a good question. "If I couldn't, I wouldn't have any regrets. I mean... I probably would be better off here though, despite what all I've done. Plus, where would I be now without you?"
Dawn looked to me, touched by this. "You really mean that, don't you?"
"Have I ever lied to you?" I said, smiling.
"Well..." she said jokingly, "Maybe," she said, as our lips met. We embraced each other for about a minute or two until we broke, gasping for air. She then laid her head against my chest. "I'm surprised with how Pikette acted against Paul today, even more surprised how she seemed to have known him quite well."
"I'm sure Pikachu told her about him," I said, remembering the whole argument.
Dawn then started to giggle. "If I hadn't intervened, she probably would've gone against Paul himself. I wonder who would've won that battle?"
"Is that even a question?" I said, quoting Pikette from before, making Dawn laugh even more.
"Dawn," I said, serious this time. "I don't know what could possibly happen in the future, but if anything bad happens, I want you to know that I will always protect you."
"I know you will," Dawn said. "But don't forget I'll have your back too since I'm the one who has Pokemon."
"Very funny," I said sarcastically, as I kissed her on the lips once again. At this point, Dawn was all I needed to keep me happy in life. But what if I did have to go back? Did I even have a choice in that matter? It would be nice to go home, but then again I should say what home? My house had pretty much been bombed, now I wasn't even sure if there was a house left. My parents had been killed because of a Pokemon. I knew before this would be all over that I would find and take down this organization even if I had to do it alone. But I wasn't alone. Maybe it was just best to stay here, I felt no pain here, I felt like I was living a new life. Still, some wounds will never heal.
Once we had finally broken the kiss, we both stared up at the ceiling while we held each other. Before either of us knew it, we both fell asleep.
(A/N: Oh, it's so much fun embarrassing Paul. Why I put Paul in this, I don't know, but I'm sure "Furyfur" would love seeing this since she hates Paul with a passion. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter, seeing Chris in an actual Pokemon battle, which he seemed to have won easily. Now, I possibly might go back into the plot after the gym battle, so don't worry I didn't cut anything out.)
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